Molluginaceae

Molluginaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Caryophyllales. The circumscription of Molluginaceae has varied over time, with some classifications treating related genera in separate families, such as Corbichoniaceae, and others placing broader groups within Molluginaceae. In modern classifications like APG IV, Molluginaceae is recognized as a distinct family that includes several genera, led by Mollugo.

Plants in Molluginaceae are typically annual or short-lived perennial herbs. They often have prostrate or ascending stems, and leaves that are simple and usually arranged alternately. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, usually actinomorphic and five-merous, and are often grouped in loose inflorescences. The perianth is simple or only slightly differentiated, and the fruit is commonly a dry capsule that dehisces to release seeds. Seeds tend to be small and numerous.

Geographic distribution of the family is predominantly tropical and subtropical, with some species extending into temperate regions. Molluginaceae species frequently occupy disturbed or open habitats, including agricultural margins and waste areas, where several species may act as weeds. The best-known genus in the family is Mollugo, with Mollugo verticillata (green carpetweed) being a widely recognized species.

In summary, Molluginaceae comprises herbaceous flowering plants with inconspicuous flowers, a distribution centered in warmer regions, and ecological associations with disturbed habitats. Taxonomic boundaries within Caryophyllales have shifted, but Molluginaceae is generally treated as a distinct family containing Mollugo and related genera.